Irish hopes of fielding a team at the European Dressage Championships in Moscow, Russia 27th to 31st July 2005 have been dashed with the news that James Connor's 16 year old Hanovarian gelding Chapmann has had to be put down due to a severe injury.
This is a cruel blow for the luckless Italian based Irish international rider having lost his other top horse the 9 year old westphalian gelding Wild Lion, which died as a result of a bout of colic at the Lipica CDI-W show in Slovenia, just a fortnight ago.
James and Chapmann had a good outing at CDI Lisbon, Portugal when taking 2nd place in the Grand Prix Special & 4th in the Grand Prix to earn qualification for the European Dressage Championships.
At the time of going to press it look's like Heike Holstein and Welt Adel (pictured) will be the sole Irish individual representative at the European Dressage Championships in the Olympic Centre, Bitza, Moscow next month.
Photo copyrighted: Mary Phelps/Phelpsphotos
Eurodressage On The Scene of the 2005 European Championships